Real Madrid drop first points under Zidane with draw at Real Betis

Real Madrid dropped their first points under Zinedine Zidane in a 1-1 draw at Real Betis on Sunday.

Real could muster only a goal by Karim Benzema after 71 minutes to cancel out Alvaro Cejudo’s brilliant seventh-minute goal, leaving them in third place, four points behind Barcelona, the leaders, and Atlético Madrid.

Zidane had overseen two lopsided home wins but Real’s slip in Seville showed he has not cured their away ills. Zidane shrugged off his first setback since taking over from the sacked Rafa Benítez.

Betis withstood waves of attacks throughout the match, with the goalkeeper Antonio Adán, a former Real player, on sparkling form and Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and Pepe wasteful in front of goal. Zidane said his team had deserved more than a point.

Barça, who have a game in hand and host Atlético next weekend, lead on goal difference. “We will follow our working plan and we’re on the right track,” Zidane said. “You have to focus on the positive,” added Zidane, who was promoted from B team coach when Benítez was abruptly fired this month.

“We dropped two points and that is the negative part but we have to think that we can get over this and that you have to fight for the league until the end.”

Real have what should be two relatively easy La Liga games at home to Espanyol and away to Granada before they host Athletic Bilbao on 13 February.

They travel to the Italian capital to play Roma in the Champions League last 16 four days later.

Zidane said Real had made things difficult with a slow start to Sunday’s game. “After that, with the match we played we deserved a lot more. But that’s football. When you have chances you have to take them. We didn’t have any luck.”